Essendon\u2019s tough season just got tougher.<\/p>\n
The Bombers will be without exciting small forward Isaac Kako for the \u201cshort-to-medium term\u201d after sustaining a back stress fracture.<\/p>\n
Kako, 20, pulled up sore from the Anzac Day defeat to Collingwood and scans confirmed his setback.<\/p>\n
Essendon general manager Daniel McPherson said Kako would \u201center a period of rest\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a really disappointing setback for Isaac, who\u2019d been playing some exciting footy for us in the early stages of this season,\u201d McPherson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll need to enter a period of rest now to let the injury settle before building back up towards a return to play later in the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bombers had two weeks of strong football, defeating Melbourne and challenging Gold Coast Suns.<\/p>\n
But they regressed against the Magpies on Anzac Day by conceding 15 goals in the second half.<\/p>\n
Essendon coach Brad Scott post-game said his group was overawed by the occasion.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were in it to halftime, but we weren\u2019t playing well either, so there was a real sense that the game was going to break open in the second half,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just didn\u2019t handle the occasion well at all, even though our pressure and everything was OK early.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s incredibly frustrating because we came for a really important day, a big occasion and opportunity to play in games like that where outside of finals you don\u2019t get a bigger game, bigger crowds, bigger stage, which creates big moments.<\/p>\n
\u201cRepeatedly we weren\u2019t able to handle those moments, so we weren\u2019t able to handle the occasion, we weren\u2019t about to handle Collingwood\u2019s pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven worse, we weren\u2019t able to stand up under perceived pressure which wasn\u2019t even there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bombers face no reprieve after the difficult loss, welcoming reigning premier Brisbane Lions to Marvel Stadium next Saturday.<\/p>\n